#WESHALLOVERCOMB! Interview with Connie from Portal 108

Recently our friends Connie and Kyla (who are also our amazing local stockist Portal 108 in Hepburn Springs, VIC) traveled to the USA to participate in the 'Women's March On Washington'.

We desperately wanted to go but talking to Connie about her experiences was the next best thing. Connie was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about their journey and share her #nastywomen protest march snaps.

Why did you travel to Washington dc for the women's rally? Why did you think it was important to attend?

Embarrassingly, I had followed the lead up to the US election for 18 months or so, mainly due to a longstanding girl crush on Hillary Clinton since my early 20’s! I’m now 47!

I have always admired her intellect and relentless commitment to women’s rights and children’s advocacy and was absolutely thrilled at the possibility of the USA having its first female president.

It was an anxious election ride, and I, like millions around the world, was in shock and disbelief when Trump won. I was deeply saddened by the fact that the rights of those marginalized by Trump’s agenda such as women, the African American, Latina, LGBTQI and immigrant communities and (basically anyone who isn’t an old white dude) would be stripped away and everything they fought so long and hard for would be in vain. Further, the prospects for those people of living in a country with such little regard for diversity and an agenda hell-bent on going backwards in terms of civil liberties and human rights was profoundly moving.

A couple of days after Trump’s win, I saw the event on Facebook and made an immediate commitment to attend in support and solidarity for those affected.

What was it like being at the march on the day?

It was a mixture of excitement and sensory overload actually. I was overwhelmed by the collective power of so many like minded people being gathered in the one place and the energy emanating from the crowd was amazing.

Did you feel inspired by the march?

Absolutely. On many levels. It encouraged me to be more vocal about my beliefs without fear of what other people might think. It also forced me not to doubt myself and my ability to evoke change in any small way that I can. I feel stronger for having participated in such an amazing event and feel as though I have flicked a “reset” switch within myself that has challenged my privilege and demanded more of me.

I see you have a pussy hat, did you make it yourself or get it from someone?

A good buddy of mine made it for me. She was a but rusty on the old knitting needles and read the pattern wrong and made it twice the size it needed to be! Luckily for her, I do have an enormous head, but even still, it was too huge. She managed to get the Janome out and do a few adjustments and I wore it with pride!

What were the best slogans you saw at the march?

There were so many. It was fantastic. My favourites would have to be:

#FREEMELANIA

#GET PISSED OFF, NOT PISSED ON

#WE SHALL OVERCOMB

#NOW YOU’VE PISSED OFF GRANDMA

#NOT MY CHEETO

#KEEP YOUR TINY HANDS OFF MY OVARIES

and finally….my absolute favourite….which is going to be my next tattoo: